The release of Black Mass this weekend seems like a good excuse to put together one of the more difficult polls we’ve ever attempted. At first I was a bit surprised we hadn’t covered this one before, but then I realized why: there are simply too many great gangster flicks to count. Not only that, but many of the best gangster movies of all time are also the best movies of all time, period. I had to leave a handful of solid options off this list and I’m sure there are quite a few others that I completely forgot. Still, I most definitely curious to see how this one plays out. What do you think is the best gangster movie ever made? Cast your vote in this week’s poll and then sound off in the comments below.

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So many classics but I went with The Departed just because of how fun it is.

You’re naat a fwackin cwop!

Lior

I don’t know if White Heat, Little Caesar and the original Scarface are the “best”, but they sure are the template for anything else that came afterward. Not necessarily stuff like The Godfather, but every tale about the small-time gangster trying to make it big and paying the price. They will probably not get lots of votes because not many have seen them, including me (unless it was a long time ago and I don’t remember).

And just for being so unique and an undisputable classic, The Godfather gets my vote. But this is really an impossible poll…

Lori Cerny

I can’t pick a fav! There’s too many good films on here for so many different reasons.

Deven Science

For me, it was between Miller’s Crossing, and Eastern Promises. I went with the former, but man, Eastern Promises is SUCH a great movie.

iammattz

The people who are voting for Miller’s Crossing need to get over themselves.

>”They will probably not get lots of votes because not many have seen them, including me (unless it was a long time ago and I don’t remember).”

So you are talking about how some films, which you admit you have never seen, paved the way for future films of that genre. Do you realize how stupid that sounds?

Lisa Naarseth Myklebust

The Godfather: Part II.

Lior

You can be aware of cinema history without actually watching the films. Of course it’s best if you have first hand experience. I cannot really discuss these films because I haven’t seen them, but I am aware of their role in the gangster genre. I watched documentaries where clips of these films were shown and I read books and listened to podcasts where these films were discussed.

FoxMulder

Heat by Michael Mann.

Jameson

James Cagney’s performance in White Heat holds up with the best of the genre, but it doesn’t transcend time like The Godfather movies.

pcch7

Went with Pulp Fiction but I was damn tempted to vote for City of God, amazing movie

JohnnyCola from Warsaw(Poland)

disappointed with Heat by Michael Mann not being listed…

kyri

What is this travesty…

Michael Mann’s The Heat.

One of the Best Films Ever made.

Just the Gun sounds alone . end the debate

ECONOMYpolitica

Good list. I went with BONNIE & CLYDE just because it is one of my all-time favorite movies. I would love to hear an Arthur Penn Premium Podcast. His films are certainly deserving!

Is that actually a gangster movie? I think of it more as a heist movie.

Sean

Yeah that’s kind of why I left it off… had to make some tough cuts to get it down to 30 choices.

devolutionary

I didn’t vote for it (tie between first 2 Godfathers) but it seems awfully fitting that Goodfellas is running away with this poll. Happy 25th anniversary to the film that immortilized Henry Hill, Jimmy Conway, and Tommy DeVito.